I am not a politician, but my name will appear on the ballot in November
for the 37th PA State House District. I believe that we the
people must take back our government. The PA State Legislature has
become nothing more than a career path for political wannabees who
seem to care nothing for our local communities and citizens.
We have witnessed midnight salary raises, deceptive pension
legislation, phoney redistricting, indictments and
criminal convictions of our legislators.

The primary cause of the problem is that our system of
State Government provides a lucrative career path for
overpaid officials. It attracts the wrong type of candidates
who become dependent upon their positions and therefore react by
repeatedly putting their job survival and advancement above the
interests of the tax payers and the communities of Pennsylvania.

When comparing the duties, commitments and responsibilities of the
state legislators, it is difficult to find positions in the private sector
which provide as much pay and benefits. Few State
Governments offer so much pay for the size of the districts being
represented.

We should be choosing representatives who seek PUBLIC SERVICE -
NOT SELF SERVICE. This problem could not be more critical
than during the present economic difficulty. Our State legislators
are reducing support for the education of our children, the security
of our communities, law enforcement and public projects, while not
reducing their own tax payer provided salaries, health care and
benefits. An example in our own 37th district is the 200 acres
of mud where there was once a lake. It is time for us to vote for
those who will represent our people and communities.

I hope there are enough voters in the 37th district who will avoid falling
for the same old political cliches and labels and vote instead to send a
citizen legislator to Harrisburg. A vote for Russ is a vote 4 us.